Now, think about the last time you were judgmental. Perhaps it was in the line at the grocery store when you questioned the items of the person in front of you. Maybe it was at your last family gathering when a sibling started talking about their financial struggles, again. Or, on the other extreme, when a coworker blathers on about their new car, boat, TV, or their latest trip to some exotic location. Or it might be every morning on the highway as that car cuts you off and speeds away. We often begin and end our days with judgement.

We are very good at judging others. We should be; we practice it enough. But what does that get us? I would suggest it gets us nothing more than a jaded perspective and a hardened heart.

Now think of the last time you showed mercy. It’s not as easy to come up with examples, is it? Let me help: It could be the time you listened to your coworker, spoke gently to your children, forgave your brother, encouraged your sister or bought lunch for a stranger.

Mercy triumphs over judgement. It could if we practiced it more often. I should if we allowed it to be a driving force to our actions. It will when we stop thinking of our selves and really pay attention to those around us.